Courtroom hero gets state's highest honor

SACRAMENTO - Former San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Cinda Fox reached her hands high into the air and threw them around the thick neck of her hero, Lodi Police Det. Eric Bradley.

Keith Reid

SACRAMENTO - Former San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Cinda Fox reached her hands high into the air and threw them around the thick neck of her hero, Lodi Police Det. Eric Bradley.

The heartfelt hug came moments after Bradley became the first Lodi officer to be honored with the California Public Safety Medal of Valor - the state's highest honor - by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown.

Bradley came to Fox's aid March 4, 2009, by shooting and killing murder defendant David Paradiso, who was attacking Fox with a hand-made weapon inside her courtroom.

"I consider it an honor to be recognized with my fellow officers," Bradley said. "It continues to make me grateful for the training I have received."

Tuesday's ceremony not only honored Bradley, but also revealed that Fox remains shaken by the incident 16 months later.

Bradley accepted the award along with nine other officers from throughout the state. They too were honored for heroic efforts.

A brief description of Bradley's actions that day was read during the ceremony, revealing some yet-to-be-released details. The account:

Paradiso sat on the witness stand and made derogatory comments about the reasons he decided to kill his girlfriend Eileen Pelt of Auburn in December 2006.

His comments caused a disruption in the courtroom, and Fox ordered a recess and asked the jury to leave. During that transition, Paradiso lunged at her from behind, threw her onto the judge's bench and proceeded to stab her in the neck with a shiv he sneaked into the courtroom in a leg brace.

Bradley approached the bench, firing his gun twice and striking Paradiso once in the chest.

Although wounded, Paradiso continued his attack. Bradley then grabbed Fox by the head and pulled her back, out of the line of fire as he shot a final, fatal round.

The incident lasted six seconds.

These details have yet to be released by the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office.

As Schwarzenegger placed the medal around Bradley's neck Tuesday, Brown presented him with a plaque. The room of about 150 public-safety officers and their family members gave him a standing ovation. He was the lone officer of the 10 being honored to be met with such a reaction.

"I think it was more poignant because Judge Fox was in attendance," said Lodi City Manager Rad Bartlam, who also was on hand to support Bradley.

Fox attended the ceremony, giving the police officer multiple hugs and posing for photos with him and the governor.

But memories of March 4, 2009, eventually overtook her. When asked how important it was for her to be at the ceremony to support Bradley, she attempted to answer but could not.

Bradley escorted her out of the governor's council room and into the capital concourse.

She could be heard crying from down the hall.

Bradley declined to speak about the incident.

When asked about the standing ovation, he smiled and blushed, but expressed few words to describe how he felt.

"It's just great to be recognized," he said.

Lodi Police Captain J.P. Badel said the department is honored along with Bradley. While the detective has received recognition from other groups, such as the California Peace Officers Association, Badel said the award from the governor and attorney general is the "most prestigious."

"It's a credit to him. If it weren't for his actions (Judge Fox) would not be alive today," Badel said.

The Medal of Valor is the state's highest honor awarded to public-safety officers "who go above and beyond the call of duty," Brown said.

Schwarzenegger said he has issued every Medal of Valor since 2003, and called the annual event his "favorite day of the year."

"I have been in rooms with Hollywood writers that tried to come up with the best action scenes for the movies. I'll tell you, those Hollywood writers can't dream up heroes as amazing as those we are honoring here today," Schwarzenegger said. "I may be an action hero on the screen, but these are the true action heroes."